“The only upright, honest kid in that bunch is Ben Hanson. Garret and Bulk have always been trouble. I thought when Daniel married Annamarie he’d settle down. There’s no way we can turn him into a decent human being.”
“How can you say that about your son?”
“Look at the trouble he’s been in. He caused us headaches almost every day when he was goofing off at school. A tragedy happened at the cabin. Those boys know what it is. Mark my words. This isn’t going to end well.” George slammed his fist onto the park bench.
Sheriff Richardson saw Chief Cornett approaching and walked over to meet him. Faces serious, voices low, they occasionally glanced in Annamarie and Daniel’s direction. Finally, they both walked over to Daniel.
“We need to talk, son,” said Sheriff Richardson.
“Yeah, talk about what?”
“You and your friends are the only ones who use the cabin. There are fresh Jeep tire tracks near the cabin, and some of them look like someone left in a hurry. Were you up there last night?”
“Um,” Daniel mumbled, “Yeah, but we left early, about ten o’clock.”
“Okay, who’s we?”
“Garret, Bulk and me.”
“I saw Garret and Bulk talking to you a while ago. Where’s Ben?”
“Don’t know. He got pretty drunk, and we left him to sleep it off at the cabin when we went home.”
“You left your friend to sleep it off alone at ten o’clock? What kind of an idiot do you think I am? The four of you are thick as thieves, and if one of you was drunk by ten o’clock, then you were all drunk and none of you would’ve left. Why did you leave Ben behind? Don’t you dare lie to me, Daniel Logan,” the sheriff snapped in a raised voice.
Daniel looked as if he was going to pass out again. “Ben and I argued. I thought leaving him up there would be a good idea, and the other guys came with me so they wouldn’t have to walk down the logging road in the dark.”
“What did you argue about? Why didn’t Garret and Bulk just ride back down with Ben later? You know Ben’s vehicle is still up there.”
“Ben has been on me about changing my life now that I’m married, and it made me angry. I left. Garret and Bulk followed me out of the cabin. I didn’t need to listen to Ben lecture me about straightening out my life.”
“That’s damn good advice young man. I would listen to Ben if I were you.”
“I’m going to talk to Garret and Bulk. They better back you up Daniel, because someone has to explain how the cabin burned and who died up there,” growled the sheriff.
“Doesn’t it make sense that it’s probably Ben?” George asked.
The sheriff shrugged. “The county coroner is on his way to identify the body and the cause of death.”
George jumped up. “Cause of death? He was drinking and probably set the porch on fire when he tried to use the barbecue pit. He must have died from smoke inhalation.”
“Maybe,” said the sheriff while he walked away, “but that doesn’t account for the smell of gasoline, or why we found the body inside the cabin.”
“What the hell did you boys do up there last night?” George yelled grabbing Daniel by the shirt.
“Nothing,” said Daniel shaking his head.
“Did you kill your best friend?”
“No,” cried Daniel, “it was the spirits.”
“Oh dear God,” whispered Maureen. “Not again.”
“I’m not crazy Mom,” yelled Daniel when he grabbed Annamarie’s arm. “C’mon. We’re going home.”
***
Annamarie had no idea how upset Daniel was until he suggested she drive home. It was a short ride, barely ten minutes, but in that time, she realized how terrified Daniel was. He began talking and didn’t stop until she put the car into Park and turned off the engine.
He mumbled he wasn’t sure what Garret and Bulk would say and was worried Bulk might have a breakdown. As big and physically strong as Bulk was, he crumbled under emotional pressure.
Garret was a different story. Annamarie thought you could threaten his life and if he didn’t want to answer your question, he wouldn’t.
Daniel said, “Bulk was so terrified last night he babbled like a child. Garret promised to calm him down on the way home. He’s going to stay with him until Bulk has the story straight and can be trusted.”
Daniel was sure Garret could keep his story straight, but one odd thing didn’t quite fit.
“I think there might be more going on than even I know about. I heard Bulk mention the word ‘them’ when they left the lake last night. I don’t think he was talking about spirits. If this has to do with more than spirits, not only do we have spirits after us, but people the spirits are controlling.”
He suddenly changed the subject to Ben.
“I swear I didn’t kill Ben. I don’t know what or who killed him, and I’ve no idea how his body ended up inside the cabin on fire. We left him outside where we found him. We never heard anything strange before or after his scream. It was a typical night at the cabin. When I found him, there wasn’t a sound in the woods. That’s why I’m sure it was spirits. Annamarie you have to believe me. What else could’ve made those cuts in Ben?”
“There are many reasons the woods would be silent. Ben’s scream would scare the animals because they’d sense trouble and hide. You know that happens all the time when you’re hunting. All the animals run from the sound.”
Daniel kept talking as if he hadn’t heard a word she said. “They were thin cuts and must have been done all at once or extremely fast since Ben only screamed once. We ran outside quickly. Whatever killed Ben would’ve been seen or heard running away.”
“Maybe they hid in the dark?”
“There was nothing out there but silence. It’s driving me crazy. Please tell me what you think, baby,” Daniel pleaded, tears streaming down his face. “How could Ben die that way? Who came back and poured gas to start a fire? Why, why? I don’t understand.”
Looking at Daniel, she saw more fear in his eyes than ever before. “I don’t know, Daniel. I’m more confused than you are,” she said holding his hand, “but I’ll do my best to help you find out.”
Getting out of the Jeep, he turned around. “You don’t think your Gypsy curse has anything to do with this, do you?”
Feeling her anger rise, Annamarie realized Daniel was on the edge, so she forced herself to answer as calmly as she could, “Daniel, I told you before it was a joke and not real. Whatever is going on has a reason, and we’ll find out what it is.”
She wasn’t sure her words helped because Daniel still looked terribly frightened.
“You think it was a joke, but what if you conjured up another spirit and it’s angered the spirits already living in the woods?”
Taking a deep breath to stop herself from screaming, she said, “We discussed this before. I didn’t invoke or summon anything with made-up words. Besides spirits don’t live anywhere, they’re dead.”
Daniel jumped on her words so fast it made her head spin. “So you do believe in spirits because you said they’re dead. How do you know if they’re living or dead? What do you know about the spirits you’re not telling me? Your mom probably knows more, too. We should ask her. Let’s go now.”
He was heading back toward the Jeep in a hurry.
“Daniel,” Annamarie called, “We need to discuss this rationally. If you ask my mom about spirits, my dad will call yours. Your parents might try to have you committed. Besides whoever heard of a living spirit? Everyone will be sure you’ve gone mad.”
“You’re right,” Daniel said. “Talking it over might help us find answers.”
They walked into the house in silence. Both exhausted, they took a long needed nap waking around dinnertime.
***
It was a warm night, but not hot. Annamarie suggested they sit outside and watch the stars and discuss recent incidents. Daniel smiled tentatively. They settled into lawn chairs while they gazed up into the night sky. Annama
rie’s suggestion they go over the events bit by bit and try to come up with ideas seemed to appeal to Daniel, who by now had calmed down.
Thinking it might be the best time to bring up her concern about Garret, she asked Daniel directly if he had any idea whether Garret was into something that could bring trouble back onto any of them.
Expecting Daniel to get angry, he looked at her and said, “Until last night I would’ve said no.”
His answer surprised her. She asked him to continue.
Daniel recalled Bulk saying, “Maybe it was ‘them.' Bulk would have said ‘spirits’ if that was what he was referring to.”
“Garret could be into some illicit activity since he always seems to be on edge and has a lot more money than he could make repairing cars.”
Daniel nodded, “That makes sense. I stopped by the repair shop last week during my lunch hour, and Garret was talking intently with two rough looking guys I’ve never seen. Garret threw a large piece of canvas over what looked like auto parts as soon as he saw me walk in.”
“That sounds suspicious. Do you think Garret’s in trouble, and one or both of those men could be responsible for Ben’s death and not spirits?”
Daniel shook his head. “I don’t know. If that’s true Annamarie, then they were up there to kill Garret and maybe Bulk. They mistakenly murdered Ben. They could’ve killed me, too.”
Chills ran down her spine. Shaking, she was barely able to whisper, “You can’t die on me, Daniel Logan. I love and need you too much.”
Daniel stood up and put his arm around her. “Let’s go inside.”
They walked into the house, and Daniel headed for the bedroom to lie down. Annamarie sat down when the phone began to ring. She answered. It was her mom.
***
“Annamarie, is it true? Is Ben dead and did someone burn down the cabin last night?” She sounded frantic.
“I’m not sure Mom. The sheriff said they found a body. Ben is missing. There was a smell of gas at the cabin, but the cabin didn’t burn down. Only the porch and a small area inside were damaged. The coroner is coming in from Oaklin to investigate. No one is sure of anything right now. We’ll have to wait for answers.”
“I can’t believe this is happening here in Timmus Woods. Things like this happen in other places. It’s so sad I could cry. Oh, one more thing before I hang up. Have you spoken to Maureen?”
Annamarie told her what happened at the lake and how upset Maureen was. They had a mystery in Timmus Woods, more like a horror movie taking place in their backyards. People would be talking about this for months--maybe years.
Hanging up, Annamarie knew all the talk was going to push Daniel further into a world of fear, real or imagined. Hoping their conversation gave Daniel more to think about than spirits, she began to wonder which was worse--a crazed killer or a spirit in the woods.
Not knowing what else to do, she picked up the phone and dialed Steve and Deb’s number. Annamarie knew Deb would answer since Steve was either asleep or at the station. They chatted a bit, eventually discussing recent events.
Deb said, “I can’t believe the body at the cabin is Ben either. That seems to be the consensus around town and no one can come up with who else it might be.”
“Does Steve know?”
“Steve’s not telling me much, and I’m not sure if it’s because he doesn’t know or doesn’t want to share delicate or possibly frightening information. He did call me and said to be sure to lock all the doors and windows.”
“Did he say why?”
“No. He’s never done that before, and it unnerved me.”
Annamarie felt the same way. “My doors and windows are already locked.”
Deb said if she heard anything she would call, and they said goodnight.
Annamarie didn’t know more than she did a few minutes ago except Steve Dunley was worried enough about his wife to have her lock the doors and windows here in Timmus Woods. She wondered what would be next.
***
While she sat worrying about Daniel and what was going on in town, the phone rang in the small apartment behind the auto shop where Garret lived. After several rings, Sheriff Richardson hung up and dialed Bulk’s number. There was no answer there either. The sheriff knew with the cabin roped off there were not many places those two would be. He had a feeling they wouldn’t be dumb enough to get drunk, but he had Steve drive out to the Tangledbranch Saloon to be sure. Back in about thirty minutes he said no one there had seen them.
Then the sheriff called Daniel.
Annamarie answered on the first ring. “Hello.”
Listening to the sheriff’s questions, she said, “Daniel is asleep, and we haven’t seen Garret or Bulk since earlier this morning at the lake.”
She asked the sheriff, “Do you have any news about the cabin or the body?”
The sheriff said the coroner and Chief Cornett were at the cabin, and he would call later when they knew more.
***
Bulk was pacing up and down in Garret’s living room. “We can’t hide from the sheriff forever. Between the sheriff, the fire chief and that coroner, they’re going to figure out something weird went on last night, and when they can’t find an answer they’ll blame us.”
“Shut up and let me think,” snapped Garret.
Bulk rambled on, “What if they say Ben was killed? We’ll be charged with murder.”
“Murder,” Garret yelled. “Have you lost your mind? There were three of us there who saw Ben dead, and we all know we didn’t do it. We’re each other’s alibis.”
“What good does that do?” moaned Bulk. He sat down with a thud. “Someone burned the body. That someone probably killed Ben and will blame us or kill us, too.”
Bulk was beginning to get on Garret’s nerves. “Listen, let me drive you to your brother’s house in Oaklin, and you can lay low for a while until this all blows over.”
“Great idea, maybe they won’t be able to find me there.”
“Knock it off,” Garret ordered. “Forget about them, I’ll take care of it.”
“Let’s go,” Bulk said. Jumping up to open the door, he looked straight into the face of Sheriff Richardson, “too late.”
“Too late for what?” asked the sheriff and Bulk turned pale. “Come on, you two. We’re going to my office.”
“I’m gonna be sick,” groaned Bulk.
“Shut up,” yelled Garret. “You’re driving me crazy.”
***
The sheriff knew he would get answers from these two one way or another, even if it took all night. They arrived at the sheriff’s station right behind the coroner and Chief Cornett. Garret was placed in a small room at the back of the sheriff’s station across from the single jail cell. Bulk was told to sit by the front desk and not leave while the sheriff went outside to talk to the chief and the coroner.
Dr. Webster had been the county coroner for as long as most people remember and must’ve been close to seventy years old. A short man with a small pot belly, he was smart and analytical. When the sheriff walked out, Dr. Webster held up his index finger. “I believe the missing young man is most likely your dead body.”
The sheriff had that figured out, but didn’t say anything.
Dr. Webster went on, “I’m having the body taken to the morgue in Oaklin to be sure we have the missing man, but one thing I can tell you is something mighty strange went on up there last night.”
The sheriff asked, “Strange?”
“Extremely, I believe the young man died outside the cabin. There was a large area of blood on the ground. There are a few traces on the porch. The body was obviously moved inside the cabin after he died. Then it was set afire.”
“Okay, maybe he was hit on the head and there wasn’t much blood.”
“No,” responded the coroner, “there is evidence there was a lot of blood outside, and possibly it burned, too.”
“Possibly?” asked the sheriff.
“Yes, possibly and possibly the blood was
removed before the fire,” quipped Dr. Webster.
“Removed?” A shocked Sheriff Richardson almost yelled. “Just send me a report when you’re done, please.”
“Okay,” the coroner nodded as he got in his car and headed out of town.
“What the hell is he talking about?” the sheriff asked the chief.
“I don’t know. He said this was one of the biggest mysteries the county’s seen in years. He took soil samples, soot samples and dug a hole where the boy was supposedly killed so he can check for the amount of blood that soaked into the earth. I think he believes in Daniel Logan’s ‘spirits.'”
“Spirits or not,” replied the sheriff, “I’m going to find out from those three boys what went on up there and I’m going to start with Garret.”
“Good luck,” said the chief as he headed towards his car.
Sheriff Richardson simply smiled and waved.
Chapter Seven: Madness
Sheriff Richardson entered the station, and Bulk jumped to his feet.
“Not so fast, fella,” said the sheriff. He glanced in Bulk’s direction, “I’m talking to Garret first.”
The sheriff knew Garret would stick to whatever story the boys had cooked up, and once he had all those details he could change them enough to scare Bulk into telling the truth. He smiled to himself while he walked down the hall to where Garret was waiting. Bulk watched the sheriff walk away, wishing he was anywhere else. He repeated the story Garret forced him to memorize over and over in his mind. Garret told Bulk he was the loose link in their chain, and he better remember everything the way they discussed. Even though they’d been friends for years, Bulk was afraid of Garret. He sat quietly, his panic increased with each breath.
When the sheriff opened the door, Garret snarled, “It’s about damn time. Where’ve you been?”
“Knock it off, Garret, or you’ll spend the night in our cell,” the sheriff snapped back.
Examining the barren room with its peeling pale green paint and painted black cement floor Garret knew the cell wasn’t much better or worse. He’d spent some time there, and aside from hearing the sheriff snore, Garret figured it wasn’t as bad as some places he’d slept. The cell wasn’t much of a threat, but he had no intention of letting the sheriff know how he felt. Garret sat down. He knew he could beat the sheriff at his own game.
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